Luxe Beat Magazine MAY 2015 | Page 13

Travel San Francisco Cathedral in Quito, Ecuador Exterior facade of Maison del Angel have taken in a cooking class, gone to see hummingbirds at the Yanacocha Preserve, visited a famous market and followed the Chocolate Trail. Check out the Discover Ecuador website to see these tours and many more escorted by Tropics. Founded in 1994, Tropic Journeys in Nature is an award–winning ecotourism company specializing in responsible, community-based tourism through high-quality operations and exceptional service in Ecuador. Guests visit the most spectacular natural areas of the country in the company of its native peoples, practicing the philosophy that one of the best ways of conserving an area - whether it be the Ecuador Amazon, the Galapagos Islands, the high Andes or a cloud forest – is to engage the participation of native, local people in creating the magic of an eco-vacation. Locals’ vested interest in travelers’ experiences assists the goal of preserving their culture and landscape. Programs combine lifechanging, active-but-cultural ecotourism experiences focusing on nature, conservation, diversity and sustainability. Disclosure: My trip to Quito was self-funded, but the tour of Quito was provided complimentary by Tropics. 13